Call for Proposals: Innovations Against Poverty Challenge Fund

By offering both financial and non-financial support, IAP helps these businesses, which are often too large for microfinance yet too small for commercial investment, scale and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

IAP aims to improve the livelihoods of low-income populations by enhancing access to essential goods, services, and employment opportunities, while also addressing the capital gaps for inclusive businesses in developing markets. By supporting innovative businesses, IAP seeks to maximize their economic, social, and environmental impact for sustainable development.

Focus Areas

• Specific focus areas of the challenge fund include:
  • Clean energy at household and community, including improved & clean cooking
  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation
  • Enhanced food security, nutrition, and (regenerative) agriculture
  • Women or Youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment
  • Business models in water (alone) or water, sanitation, and/or hygiene (including waste management)
• Businesses in the above themes that have an element of financial inclusion or digitalisation can be considered!
• Your innovative Inclusive Business idea should be relevant to at least one of the target thematic areas.
• This call for proposals does not include business models solely based on health or education.

Funding Information 

• Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) Challenge Fund offers matching grants ranging from €50,000 to €200,000 to businesses ready to scale their inclusive innovations.

Benefits

• IAP also offers tailored non-financial support, including business development advice, inclusive business strategy development, and marketing, distribution, and investment readiness training.  For select grantees, IAP offers matchmaking with investors and funders, including local and regional investors, as well as access to ongoing investment mentorship.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for an IAP matching grant, your business must meet the following criteria:
  • Inclusive Innovation: Your business must be offering a product, service, or business model (or business line) innovation that directly benefits the base of the economic pyramid.
  • Market Focus: Your business must operate in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, or Zambia.
  • Commercial Viability: Your business should have passed the pilot stage and be generating revenue from the innovation. You must also have robust financial systems and processes in place that allow for timely reporting.
  • Co-Investment: Businesses must be able to co-invest at least 51% of the total project cost, either through cash or in-kind contributions
  • Sustainability and Scalability: They are looking for businesses with the potential to grow sustainably and scale their impact.
  • Responsible Business Practices: All applicants must comply with local laws and ethical standards, including labor rights, environmental regulations, and anti-corruption measures.

For more information, visit IAP.